News item | 10-10-2023 | 17:53
The Netherlands has been elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2024-2026 by a very large majority in the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Netherlands regards the Human Rights Council as the most important UN forum for the protection and promotion of human rights. Human rights are under pressure worldwide. That is why the Netherlands will continue to promote freedom of expression, freedom of religion and belief worldwide in the coming years, as well as equal rights for women, girls and LGBTIQ+ people. The Netherlands will also pay special attention to involving human rights defenders and civil society, to keep the Human Rights Council inclusive and relevant.
The UN Human Rights Council
The Human Rights Council has existed since 2006 and is the body of the United Nations (UN) that focuses on compliance with human rights in all UN member states. The Council consists of representatives of 47 member states. These member states are elected by the UN General Assembly. Each region in the world has a number of permanent places in the council for states from that region.
The member states are elected in a secret ballot for 3 years and are eligible for re-election for one additional term, after which they must give up their seats for a term. The Netherlands has been a member several times. The last time was from 2020 to 2022. The members of the Human Rights Council meet several times a year.
Any UN member state can nominate for the Human Rights Council. The Netherlands believes it is important that this Council reflects the world. This also means that countries can be elected that, according to the Netherlands, should score better in the field of human rights.
The Netherlands will use its upcoming membership to publicly and behind the scenes appeal to the members of the Council about their own responsibility for the observance and protection of human rights. National and international. Just as other countries can hold the Netherlands accountable.